**Executive Summary**
NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students) has issued a clarification on misleading media reports regarding the ESSE-2025 Tier-1 results, specifically concerning "negative marks selection." The clarification, released on February 6, 2026, emphasizes that Tier-1 is only a screening stage and final selection is based on Tier-2 and interviews. NESTS urges media organizations to verify facts before publication.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose of Clarification:**
* To address misleading media reports claiming candidates with low or negative marks were "selected" in the ESSE-2025 recruitment.
* **ESSE-2025 Recruitment Process:**
* The recruitment is for 7,267 teaching and non-teaching posts.
* It follows a two-tier examination system.
* Tier-1, conducted by CBSE in December 2025, is a screening stage to shortlist candidates for Tier-2 in a 1:10 ratio.
* Tier-1 cut-off is determined by the number of candidates to be shortlisted, not by suitability for final appointment.
* **Marking Scheme and Cut-offs:**
* The marking scheme, including negative marking, was clearly stated in the ESSE-2025 notification.
* Low or negative Tier-1 cut-offs reflect relative performance and do not imply eligibility for appointment.
* **Final Selection:**
* Final merit and selection are based exclusively on the Tier-2 examination and interviews (where applicable).
* For the post of Principal, selection includes a Tier-2 examination followed by an interview.
* Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in Tier-2: 30% for General category and 25% for SC/ST/Divyang candidates. Failure to meet this criteria results in automatic disqualification.
* **Salary Levels:**
* Salary levels mentioned in some reports are standard government pay scales.
* These salaries become applicable only after successful completion of all recruitment stages.
* **Transparency:**
* The recruitment is conducted in a transparent, rule-based, and merit-driven manner.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Candidates**
* **Impact:** Provides accurate information about the selection process, clarifying that Tier-1 results are merely a screening tool. It also ensures candidates are aware of the Tier-2 minimum qualification requirements.
* **Action Required:** Understand the two-tier examination process and focus on performing well in the Tier-2 examination.
**Stakeholder: Media Organizations**
* **Impact:** Addresses the spread of misinformation and emphasizes the importance of verifying facts before publishing reports on the ESSE-2025 recruitment.
* **Action Required:** Verify facts and consult official sources before publishing articles related to NESTS recruitment.
**Stakeholder: NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students)**
* **Impact:** To ensure that there is transparency of recruitment and correct information disseminated to the public.
* **Action Required:** To continue a transparent, rule-based, and merit-driven recruitment process.
Key Entities Referenced
ESSE-2025: The examination for recruitment to teaching and non-teaching posts.
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS): The organization responsible for the ESSE-2025 recruitment examination.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The ministry under which NESTS operates.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
NESTS Clarifies ESSE-2025 Tier-1 Results, Says
Media Reports on “Negative Marks Selection”
Are Misleading
ESSE-2025 Recruitment: Tier-1 Only Screening Stage, Final
Selection Based on Tier-2 and Interview, Says NESTS
Posted On: 06 FEB 2026 3:16PM by PIB Delhi
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has
issued a clarification on certain media reports that appeared after the declaration of the Tier-1 results of the
ESSE-2025 recruitment examination. NESTS said some reports have presented a misleading picture by
claiming that candidates with low or even negative marks have been “selected”, which is factually
incorrect and does not reflect the notified recruitment framework.
NESTS stated that ESSE-2025 was notified for recruitment to 7,267 teaching and non-teaching posts and
the selection process follows a two-tier examination system. The Tier-1 examination, conducted by CBSE
in December 2025, is only a screening and qualifying stage meant to shortlist candidates for Tier-2. As per
the ESSE-2025 notification, candidates are shortlisted in the ratio of 1:10 for each post, and therefore the
Tier-1 cut-off is determined by the number of candidates required to be shortlisted and not by suitability
for final appointment.
The Society further clarified that the marking scheme, including negative marking, was clearly mentioned
in the ESSE-2025 notification. The presence of low or negative cut-offs in Tier-1 only reflects relative
performance in a competitive examination and does not imply eligibility for appointment or any dilution
of standards.
NESTS emphasized that final merit and selection are determined exclusively through the Tier-2
examination, which is subject-specific and evaluative in nature, and wherever applicable, through
interviews. For the post of Principal, the process includes a Tier-2 examination followed by an interview
to ensure only professionally competent candidates are selected. Candidates must secure minimum
qualifying marks in Tier-2, which are 30 per cent for General category candidates and 25 per cent for
SC/ST/Divyang candidates, failing which they are automatically disqualified irrespective of their Tier-1
performance.
The Society also clarified that salary levels mentioned in some media reports are standard government pay
scales and become applicable only after successful completion of all stages of recruitment. Reiterating that
the recruitment is being conducted in a transparent, rule-based and merit-driven manner, NESTS urged
media organisations to verify facts before publication so that the public is not misled.
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